LAHORE, April 10 (EW):v The Shehbaz-led cabinet will table the elections fund issue and the Supreme Court bill in the joint session of the Parliament today.
National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has convened a joint sitting of parliament today as President Arif Alvi returned the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023, unsigned a day earlier.
According to a circular issued by the NA secretariat, “In exercise of the powers conferred by proviso to rule 4 of the Parliament (Joint Sittings) Rules, 1973, the honourable Speaker has been pleased to call a joint sitting on Monday, the 10th April, 2023 at 4pm instead of 2pm.”
The cabinet will meet again today to discuss whether the government will release funds for elections in Punjab.
On Sunday, an important and urgent meeting of the cabinet that held under the chair of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decided to send the funds for elections matter to the parliament. It also deliberated upon upcoming elections in Punjab and prevailing political and constitutional crisis in the country.
The cabinet discussed whether or not to release funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for holding elections in Punjab on May 14 or ‘defy’ the Supreme Court’s order. It was decided to keep the supremacy of the parliament. It was also decided to take the funds issue to the parliament. The meeting held through video link in the provincial capital.
The cabinet also approved the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting’s decisioins.
Sources told Dunya News that the cabinet members condemned the act of President Dr Arif Ali of returning the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 to the government.
PM Shehbaz, speaking on the occasion, said the role of the president had become like that of a PTI activist. It was said that “It is unfortunate to send the bill approved by the Parliament back. The president should have abided by the Constitution and the law.”
Sources said Justice Athar Minallah’s dissenting note and the Supreme Court’s verdict on polls also came under discussion. It was stated that how four-three judgment can be accepted as three-two.
They further said the cabinet discussed the future line of action.No agenda had been issued before the meeting.
Most cabinet members, including Riaz Pirzada, Sajid Toori, Maulana Abdul Wasae, Hashim Notezai and Amir Muqam, participated in the meeting through a video link. Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Atta Tarar and others joined it from Lahore.
